Manner: increase in sales and earnings

Austrian confectionery manufacturer Josef Manner & Comp. AG, Vienna, confirmed an increase in business year 2012 sales and earnings. According to Manner's latest business report, sales were up 3.8% to € 176.3 m. EBIT rose by almost a third from € 3.38 m in 2011 to € 4.27 m. Annual surplus was up from € 2.12 m to € 2.8 m. On average, Manner employed a total of 670 people, 378 of them in production (2011: 397).

In Austria Manner sales slid 1.6% in volume, but were up slightly by 0.6% in value. Despite a "difficult environment" the company succeeded in gaining market share. Manner and Napoli brand sales were both strong. While sales of the Manner brand in Germany grew fastest in relative terms, Napoli achieved strong growth in third countries. Despite the ongoing challenging situation on a number of markets abroad, exports continued to account for a high 56.7% of revenue. Manner's own sales organisation in Germany succeeded in delivering excellent growth, along with good results in Italy and Poland. Due to sluggish market conditions in the Czech Republic and Slovenia, there was no increase in sales 2012, although market share grew or was maintained.

Highlights during 2012 included the launch of Manner's campaign centred round engaging fictional character "Mannerfakteur", who oversees and attests to the quality of Manner products and points out what’s special about the Manner range. The "Mannerfakteur" campaign featured on TV, online, at the POS and was also the focus of a road show. Important strategic decisions regarding product development were taken in 2012, with a view to restructuring the department and opening a brand new innovation centre. This will involve the biggest sum ever invested by Manner in the history of the company. The innovation centre and offices, located at company headquarters in Vienna and to be completed by 2014, will be equipped with state of the art technology.

Sales volume during the first few months of 2013 was well above that of the same period the year before (+ 5.7%). Despite the challenging economic situation, Manner has remained committed to its internationalisation strategy these past few years so as to create a solid base for future growth.

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